optional

Definitions

Built on option (Latin optāre 'choose') + -al (adj.) = 'relating to a choice.' If something is optional, it is left to your choice rather than required. This is the Latin 'choose' branch of opt-, not the Greek 'sight' opt- of optical — same spelling, unrelated.

Common Collocations

• 1.optional extra可选配件
• 2.purely optional纯属自愿
• 3.optional feature可选功能
• 4.optional subject选修科目

Example Sentences

• 1.

  Attendance at the workshop is optional, not mandatory.

• 2.

  The car comes with several optional extras you can add.

• 3.

  Wearing a tie is optional at our office.

Easily Confused

optional vs voluntary — Both mean 'not required,' but optional describes a thing offered as a choice (an optional feature, an optional course). voluntary describes an action done by free will (voluntary work, a voluntary donation). A feature is optional; an act is voluntary.